Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he plans to include in the Carers Strategy on the availability of breaks for carers.

In developing the new Carers Strategy we have been consulting widely and working closely with carers to understand the many issues that may impact on them, including the role of breaks for carers. The Strategy will look at the support we provide to carers themselves; to their families and will reach beyond the health and care system to help support carers in employment, education and in the development of ‘carer friendly communities’.